Asia

Women in India

Charmless candour

WHAT could improve the lot of India’s women and girls, some 600m in all? Their assorted woes range from female foeticide to violent abuse within families, attacks in trains or on unsafe city streets, under-representation in politics and business, economic discrimination, religious repression and much more.

If that were not bad enough, add the tactless comments of a minister in the national government, Prakash Jaiswal. This week, failing to be witty about marriage at a public meeting, he caused a small storm of protest after saying that, “Like an old victory, wives lose charm as time goes by.”

Despite both an apology of sorts and the feeble claim that his words had been “taken out of context”, public anger has only grown. In Mr Jaiswal’s home town of Kanpur protesters have burnt effigies and blackened pictures of him. Now an activist wants him to face a criminal trial for “obscene acts”. That does look utterly over the top, but it is a sign of how completely out-of-touch many of the government’s ageing, male leaders are. If it encourages them to keep their feet out of their mouths in future, all to the good.

Adding to Mr Jaiswal’s unease, a high-ranking UN official swept into Delhi on October 2nd to promote women’s rights and opportunities. Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile, knows little about India, but talked gamely at a press conference about recent gains in politics, thanks to a quota system. She said had got 1.5m women elected at the panchayat (village) level. That is around 40% of the total, a huge rise on their representation before.

Yet political gains do little in themselves. India (and much of South Asia) has had many strong women as political leaders. Ms Bachelet also talked about changing other social norms—such as convincing both women and men to talk more respectfully about those who have suffered centuries of discrimination. And how like old victories, she might have added, certain ministers lose their charm as time goes by.

India is a democratic country that fails to protect half of its voters- a catastrophic tragedy. Hopefully, these incompetent and indifferent politicians will be replaced by new politicians who are more inclined to protect their constituents.

As per National Crime Records Bureau, every 22 minutes a rape is committed in India and out of which 30% are against minors.
1. The conviction rate is below 25%.
2. Police refuse to register victim's complaint.
3. Insane politicians are saying gang-rape is consensual sex.
4. Inhuman family members of the rapist are visiting victim's house to show off their hegemony.http://ncrb.gov.in/CD-CII2011/cii-2011/Chapters.htm

As per Congressman Trent Franks House Concurrent Resolution 139, I've requested Obama Administration to direct New Delhi regime to create an Independent nation for 300 million India's untouchables.http://wh.gov/Bo5w

It's a timely article but gives an impression that women and girls are not secure anywhere in India. This is untrue. In the southern states, for example, women are not only safe but are given equal rights. Many areas have matriarchal societies. Female literacy is extremely high and women are given equal opportunity in the job market.
The problem of the 'girl child' lies more in the Northern states where historically boys have been preferred over girls. From where, incidentally, Mr Jaiswal comes.

One way, where the state can step in to curb CRIMES against women and girls is to treat such acts in a more stringent and vigorous legal manner than otherwise. Instant and exemplary punishment may just be right for years of iniquity. Fast tracking cases of abuse against women will also help.

I also don't think that treating Mr Jaiswal's statement as a criminal act is 'over the top' as you say. In my view, such a statement issuing from a Union Minister should be construed more of a criminal act than the act of eve teasing by a street side hooligan.
On a lighter note, Mr Jaiswal should read Agatha Christie's take on why women should marry archaeologists!

Nino, what I mean by property rights is secure ownership title to land and other assets that are enforceable in a court of law.

It is these assets that allow people to use as collateral for obtaining credit. Credit is what separates us from the animals without it we'd still be living in caves.

You are of course correct that some of this requires the support of the government or at the very least a reduction in corruption and the arbitrary and contradictory nature of court proceedings in India often biased against women.

India has a very long way to go but it will get there a hell of a lot faster if you give women control of their own destinies.

Every 18minutes a crime is committed against a Dalit.
Every day at least 3 Dalit women are raped.
Every day 2 Dalits at least are murdered, 11 Dalits are beaten or 2 Dalit houses are burnt in India.

37% of Dalits live far below the poverty line.
More than 54% of Dalit children are undernourished, 83 per 1000 live birth children born to Dalits die before their first birthday.

1/3 of Dalit households do not have basic facilities. Public health workers refuse to visit Dalit homes. In 27.6% of villages Dalits are prevented from entering police stations. In 37.8% of Government schools Dalit children have to sit separately even while eating. In 23.5% of villages in India, Dalits do not even get mail delivered. In 48.4% of villages Dalits were denied access to water resources because they are “untouchables”.

Looks like Prakash Jaiswal, a minister in Manmohan Singh's government, spoke with a foot in his mouth while uttering "Like an old victory, wives lose charm as time goes by". Somebody should tell him that wives are also women. The chairperson of the UPA government of which Jaiswal is a minister, is also a woman known as Sonia Gandhi and she is not young any more. Would he say that Sonia Gandhi is not a charming lady?

There are a number of government supported NGOs in India who go full steam even on inane issues connected with women, are all keeping mum. Sonia Gandhi should have taken notice of this stupid and boastful levity of expression which the minister found very interesting.

Maybe Jaiswal is due for a governorship in the traditions of another ex-governor N.D.Tiwari with similar specialized peculiarities.

Anyway, looks like the minister was speaking with a penis in his mouth.

I totally agree, that women needs to be given right to control their own destinies. As for property rights, as I read on web though, under Hindu law ( succession act) "women including married daughters have as much right to property as sons have", but according to your feedback, I assume, it is not practiced?.. It brings me back to my point that, women empowerment largely depends on society's will to change. Even in this case, law is just an instrument, and yes, it might be enforced by judicature, but, for it to be effectively used, society's support is needed... Anyways, thanks for your feedback, quite educational :D